The vehicle was unveiled at the Auto Guangzhou , and later the Auto Qingdao. In April , beating a Corvette C6. The cars were built from May through April V 60 degree, light-alloy block, mid mounted longitudal , permantent four-wheel drive with viscous traction system. Archived from the original on 13 April

It is Lamborghini's first best-selling model with 14, built throughout its production run. On 25 November , the last Gallardo was rolled off the production line. The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional H-Box six-speed manual transmission , and a more advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled semi-automatic electrohydraulic manual transmission , which Lamborghini abbreviates to "E-gear".

The "E-gear" allows the driver to make shifts much faster than they could with a manual transmission. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, but can also change to an automatic mode.

For the model year launched in late Lamborghini introduced many changes to the car to counter some criticisms garnered from the press and owners. These were based on the limited edition Gallardo SE. These changes gave the car much better performance than the original. It was intended to be a modern interpretation of the single-seat roadsters of the past.

Utilizing a 'saute-vent' French for 'change wind' instead of a traditional windscreen, and dividing the interior into two distinct compartments by continuing the bodywork between the seats, which also serves as an air inlet feeding the mid-mounted 5.

The rear-view mirror is even electronically retractable to allow the driver to see behind, when necessary, or to retract it into the dashboard when not needed. Though considered more of a styling exercise than a working production vehicle, the final working show car only had to be modified slightly from the original computer-aided designs.

Lamborghini was rumoured to be building examples for customers, but decided to keep it as a styling exercise. Only 2 cars were ever produced: The soft top is fully retractable. The name paid tribute to the construction style of the first Lamborghini production model, the GT , designed and built by Carrozzeria Touring [14] and its emphasis on weight reduction.

The 6-speed E-Gear transmission was standard on US spec models with the 6-speed manual transmission offered as a no cost option. Production of the Superleggera amounted to units worldwide. In December , two Gallardos were donated to the Italian Polizia di Stato in honour of the force's nd anniversary, one was donated by Automobili Lamborghini S. The Gallardo police cars were used by the traffic police Polizia Stradale during emergencies and alarm situations on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway, also under the powers of the special safety operative which is already being employed along that tract of highway and, above all, for the transport of body organs destined for transplantation.

However, both of the cars were destroyed in the course of duty. A produced personalised version for the Italian police force serving as the replacement of the destroyed cars. Two Gallardos have been "temporary" police cars for the Metropolitan Police in London , one in and one in , for specific publicity events. The vehicle was seen at the start of the Gumball Rally. Both vehicles were lent by Lamborghini London and were fitted with yellow and blue battenburg markings , police logos and a small blue lightbar.

The Gallardo SE is a limited edition of units introduced in It is distinguished from the regular Gallardo externally by a black-roofed two-tone color scheme as well as specially designed "Callisto" wheels. It also featured a two-tone interior further distinguishing it from the base model. All piping and stitching on the ultra-quality leather are executed in the same color as the bodywork of the car.